Calmodulin in motion

The clip represents Calmodulin in motion. At the beginning it is shown moving in the unbound form (ApoCaM), and it changes its conformation when Calcium ions are present in the medium (CaCaM).

/flash/Apo_CaM_CaCaM.swf

Motion of ApoCaM is elaborated on the basis of 23 conformations derived from NMR file 1cfc, using the 3D animation program Blender, and according to a system to be published soon (Zini et al., manuscript in preparation). The transition from ApoCaM to CaCaM is elaborated with Blender starting with conformation 21 of 1cfc to arrive in conformation 11 of pdb file 1x02.

Surface rendering is also elaborated using Blender, and shows the lipophilic potential as a scale of white-black and smooth-rough, form the most lipophilic to the hydrophilic. Electrostatic potential is represented as a series of lines moving in the direction Positive to Negative, elaborated according to a scheme to be published soon (Andrei et al., in preparation). As most lines are moving towards Calmodulin, one can learn that the protein is slightly acidic (negative partial charges on its surface).

This movie was created by Andrei, Zini et al., of the Scientific Visualization Unit, Institute of Clinical Physiology - CNR of Itlay.

Additional Resources
For additional information, see: Carbohydrate Metabolism